Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-21

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The graph below shows the number of shops that closed and the number of new shops that opened in one country between 2011 and 2018.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Number of shop closures and openings 2011– 2018

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The line graph illustrates how many shops are available and unavailable for their customers in one country from 2011 to 2018.

Overall, it can be clearly seen that the proportion of closed shops decreased throughout the period, whereas the opening shops fluctuated and ended lower than its starting point.

In 2011, the number of closed shops are peaked at 8,500, while the open shops figure registered at just 6,500. In 2014, open and close both shop figure level recorded almost similar at 6,500 and 6,100. In 2015, the both open and close showed an downward trend at only 500 and 4,000.

In 2016, the figure of the opening shops dramatically increased at 5,100, when closed shops remained steady at 4,000. During 2017, the numbers for both categories plateaued, hovering steady at around 5,000 for openings and 4,000 for closures, a pattern that largely persisted into the following period.By 2018, both shop openings and closures fell to their lowest points, at approximately 5,000 and 3,000 respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response provides a clear overview of the main trends. You successfully identified the general decline in closures and the fluctuating nature of openings. However, there are some inaccuracies in data reporting. For instance, you state that in 2015, both categories showed a downward trend at 'only 500 and 4,000', which does not accurately reflect the provided graph. Additionally, the description of the 2014 data as 'almost similar' is vague. To improve, ensure that data points are cited precisely and that the comparison between categories is more analytical rather than just listing figures.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In 2011', and 'In 2016' helps guide the reader through the timeline. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'the both open and close showed an downward trend'. Improving the flow between sentences and ensuring that pronouns or references clearly point to the correct data would enhance the coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the main points, using terms like 'fluctuated', 'plateaued', and 'downward trend'. However, there are some word choice errors and awkward phrasing, such as 'opening shops figure' instead of 'the number of new shop openings' and 'closed shops are peaked'. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing. The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('the number of closed shops are peaked') and incorrect article usage ('the opening shops'). There are also minor punctuation and phrasing errors, such as 'the both open and close'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and article usage will significantly improve your accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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